Check-In agents determining baggage allowance - Computer or human memory?
 

When one checks in baggage at the airport, does the computer give the check-in agent the baggage allowance, or does he/she rely on memorized rules?

My parents will be flying in CX J JFK-BKK and CX J BKK-JNB. I know that the standard rule is that the allowance is 2 bags, 70 lbs. each for all flights, as the journey starts in the USA.

However, they'll be originating in Brazil, flying on JJ J GRU-JFK the day before, on the same ticket, causing the allowance to be determined at each departing city.

So with that, the BKK-JNB portion is actually only 30kgs!

Will my parents have any chance of getting away with checking 2 bags at 70 lbs. each with no excess baggage fees in BKK, claiming that they originated in the USA?

Should I get my parents prepared to hand over their excess baggage to my relatives at BKK before they leave for JNB and have my relatives ship them back?

you should be able to get lucky. they usually do not know rules are dependant on where your ticket pass through. when they see you go to USA, you'll get 2 bags.

actually, no. originating from brazil you get 2 bags
quote: http://www.klm.com/travel/br_en/prep...s/exbag_BR.htm since it's from a brazilian agency i dont think there's much debate there. you might have to hint them you're going to the Americas when you check in at BKK so should be piecewise, but that should suffice.

Actually the allowance should be stated on the ticket. So that is what the agent uses.

You should see 2PC next to each sector of the ticket which indicates piece system.

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Passing thru anericas should get the whole ticket in piecewise- but cx eticket sometimes only show baggage allowance leg by leg

They are allowed 2 pieces at 32kg EACH.

Go to this page : http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_U...allowance.html

Print out and highlight : Piece System – for Central, North and South Americas (See Note 3) and carry it with them so that they can show the check in agent when problems arise.

I'd say check the TKT to be sure. US DOT rule only applies if US is the origin or furthest destination. Brazil's special rule also seems to only applies to journeys to / from Brazil. Without knowing OP's parents entire itinerary, all I can get from the GDS is below. This indicates BKK-HKG-JNB is 30k.

As long as the ticket ORIGINATES from Brazil, the entire journey will be 32kg x 2 pieces.

I have clients who travel RTW from Brazil all the time and they tell me that all airlines know the rule and therefore irrespective of what the ticket says, they are accorded the baggage allowance of 2x32kg. I have also asked this question once upon a time ago with AA RTW desk and they tell me the same allowance is given for the entire journey.

As per CX's link above -

Thanks, everyone. My parents' itinerary, which ErnestNYWang pieced together, is

JJ J GRU-JFK
CX J JFK-BKK
CX J BKK-JNB

Rest of their travels are on separate PNRs, which is irrelevant to this case.

If JJ issue boarding passes and check bags to JNB (which they should now because they are in oneworld), the CX agent has no way of verifying the weight of the bags. The CX agent will most likely verify that the tag numbers got sent in from JJ and ask if the passengers picked up the bags in Customs and put them on the connection belt.

Agree with the above, you have to read your e-ticket to confirm.

Usually agent just memorize the allowance, or in other words, assuming the pax gets weight base unless your immediate destination is US. But if you remind them, they can check the correct allowance from their system.

I have once flew LHR-HKG with a ticket that touches US, and the agent simply just assumed that I have 40kg + 20kg (F + OWE), which actually works better for me because I have 4 pieces of luggage but less than 40kg. Anyway, I have re-confirmed with him that it is ok even my ticket only allows me 3 pieces, and he only became aware of the piece allowance when I ask.

Btw, last time for BKK-HKG in J, they gave my sister 40kg (instead of 30) allowance, citing that she gets extra 10kg on top of 30 kg because she is in business class.

Thanks for the replies. I don't have an "e-ticket" receipt as US Airways, the issuing carrier, didn't mail me one, although my credit card got charged and an e-ticket number showed up on the US Airways web site.

I read through the official IATA rules to determine baggage allowance and utilized the web site www.iflybags.com. According to the IATA rules and the site, the allowance should be 30kgs, but airlines have been known to give more generous allowances.

To avoid confirmation bias, I e-mailed the CX YVR office, in hopes of getting a favorable response, which I did. :) And of course, I'm going to print out CX's reply and give it to my parents just in case.

Response from the YVR CX office: